I was in my office typing on my laptop while checking on some files on my desk. I have so many files to go through, especially regarding the new collaboration we just got with the Sol Group.Suddenly, the door burst open, and I saw my secretary running after Elder Marcus. She looked on the verge of tears, but I nodded to her and told her to go back to her office.“Where is Alpha Jaxon?”“He has left for his home. I believe he has crossed the borders by now. Is there any problem?”“What is that supposed to mean, Damien? I was waiting in the reception for him to come out or for you to come and inform me that you have finished your meeting. I wanted to talk to him about something.”“Oh. Is that it?” I asked nonchalantly. “Well, the alpha said he had another meeting somewhere else. He left immediately after we finished our discussion.”“What is that supposed to mean? You knew I wanted to meet him. You could have called me to come and see him, even if only briefly.”I leaned back on my cha
MarcusI sat in my study, the amber liquid in my glass catching the faint light from the single candle I had lit on my desk. It was getting dark outside, the kind of time I should be relaxing. But all I could feel was the burning rage deep inside me. That little twerp called me his subject.Imagine that little twerp, telling me I am his subject.I took another sip, letting the fire of the alcohol settle in my chest. But it wasn’t enough to douse the fire in my mind. My fingers gripped the glass tighter, the crystal almost feeling like it might shatter under my anger. Well, I am his subject for now, for now. I would have finished my discussions with Jaxon by now. It was supposed to be a simple, discreet meeting between us. By now, he would have given me access to Lyra. That was why I wanted to let him know that I am Lyra’s father. I am sure that would have made him see me in a good light.Knowing that I’m related to Lyra would have meant something to him. I could have swayed him. He
“That’s terrible,” Garret exclaimed, taking a seat. “How could Damien do that to you?”“Don’t worry. His time is coming.” My tone softened slightly, though it still had a cold edge. “By the time I finish with him, he won’t know what hit him.”“But sir, do you think Jaxon knows about us? I mean, do you think Lyra told them about what she overheard in your study that day?”“What did she hear? We were just speculating on the reason she may have run away since she was in the house that day. For all you know, she didn’t hear anything, and something else may have triggered her.”“I was just wondering what they might have discussed - Jaxon and Damien,” Garret continued. “If Lyra didn’t know about your plan, she wouldn’t have told Jaxon. So Damien is still unaware of anything.”“Of course,” I said, taking a sip from my drink. “Even if Lyra suspects me, she wouldn’t go blabbering her mouth to outsiders. She can’t tell such things to people from other packs.”“Really?”“I raised her with an iro
"I believe you confessed to me because you still don’t trust the women in your back," she said quietly. "You feel they will behave the same way as your former girlfriend. But you need to forgive yourself and move on. And you can still check out other packs if that is what you really want and pick a mate from there. Luke, you need to move on. There’s more to life than what has happened."Her words hung between us, heavy with meaning. I didn’t know what to say, but a part of me wanted to argue, to tell her it wasn’t that simple. But I didn’t. Instead, I just stared at her, trying to process what she was saying. She was being so… open.Lyra gave a soft chuckle, as if reading my thoughts. "I’m not asking you to forget your past, Luke. It’s just… don’t let it steal your future. Don’t let it steal what could be."I swallowed, feeling a lump in my throat. "And what’s that supposed to mean? You want me to forget everything just like that?""No." She shook her head firmly. "I’m saying don’t li
LyraMy father is a respected husband and father, a model citizen, a role model to the youth, and a revered elder of our pack. Yet from the first day I was born, he wanted me dead.I thought getting married to Alpha Damian was going to protect me from him, but his long hands of hatred still reached me there. And now, because of him, my husband wants me dead.My name is Elyra Forte and I am on the run.My breath came in ragged gasps, each step sending sharp jolts of pain through my body. The weight of my pregnancy slowed me down, but I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t risk being caught—not now, not ever. The thick forest canopy above me blocked out most of the moonlight, casting eerie shadows that made the underbrush even more treacherous. But I had to keep going.My father’s voice still echoed in my mind, cold and calculating. “Once she gives birth, we’ll dispose of her. No one will stand in our way - not even Damian. He has served his purpose.”I had never been close to my father, but I n
Damian“Where is she?” I snarled, my voice echoing in the silent room. The guards standing before me exchanged nervous glances, their eyes flicking to the floor as if it would save them from my wrath.“We… we don’t know, Alpha,” one of them stammered, his voice trembling. “We haven’t seen her since this afternoon.”“Are you telling me,” I growled, stepping closer, “that my wife left this house without anyone noticing?”One of the guards flinched, his face pale. “I-I’m sorry, Alpha. We thought she went to see her parents.”“Are you crazy? She’d already come back from that place.”“Sorry alpha. We were stationed at the gates as usual. We didn’t see her leave.”“Useless,” I spat, turning away from them. My hands clenched into fists as I stared out the window, my mind racing. Lyra was gone. She had left without a word, without permission …and with my child in her belly. Fury surged through me at the thought. She knew better than to defy me, to disobey the rules of this household. Yet sh
LyraThe warm sunlight filtered through the window as I sat with Calista, sipping the tea she had prepared. Calista is the wife of Alpha Jaxon of the Crewwood pack, who had graciously accepted to accomodate me in their home. His wife has been a good friend since I arrived.“Do you ever think about how different things could have been?” Calista asked, her voice soft as she stared out at the forest beyond the window.I glanced at her, sensing the weight behind her question. “All the time,” I admitted. “Growing up, I used to dream about my mate — how he’d sweep me off my feet, and how we’d be so in love from the moment we met. I was naïve, I suppose.”Calista smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “We all had those dreams at some point. It’s hard not to, with all the stories we hear as children.”I nodded, my mind drifting back to those innocent days when I believed in fairy tales. “When I met Damian… I thought maybe, just maybe, those dreams could come true. But it was n
LyraI looked up to see Calista, Jaxon’s wife, entering the room with a soft smile on her face. “How are you feeling, Lyra?”I returned her smile, though mine was tinged with exhaustion. “I’m… better, thanks to you and Jaxon. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t taken me in.”Calista waved her hand dismissively as she took a seat beside me. “Nonsense. You needed help, and we were here. That’s all there is to it. Besides,” she added, her eyes twinkling as she looked down at my son, “we couldn’t very well turn you away, not with this little one on the way.”“Yet, you could have sent me back or even kept me anywhere else in your pack. Why did you choose to keep me in the main pack house with your family?”“Well, it was the alpha’s call,” Calista said, throwing her hands in the air. “Jaxon said something about repaying for past sins. I don’t even understand what he was saying but I’m glad you are here. I love your friendship.” Tears welled up in my eyes again, but this tim
"I believe you confessed to me because you still don’t trust the women in your back," she said quietly. "You feel they will behave the same way as your former girlfriend. But you need to forgive yourself and move on. And you can still check out other packs if that is what you really want and pick a mate from there. Luke, you need to move on. There’s more to life than what has happened."Her words hung between us, heavy with meaning. I didn’t know what to say, but a part of me wanted to argue, to tell her it wasn’t that simple. But I didn’t. Instead, I just stared at her, trying to process what she was saying. She was being so… open.Lyra gave a soft chuckle, as if reading my thoughts. "I’m not asking you to forget your past, Luke. It’s just… don’t let it steal your future. Don’t let it steal what could be."I swallowed, feeling a lump in my throat. "And what’s that supposed to mean? You want me to forget everything just like that?""No." She shook her head firmly. "I’m saying don’t li
“That’s terrible,” Garret exclaimed, taking a seat. “How could Damien do that to you?”“Don’t worry. His time is coming.” My tone softened slightly, though it still had a cold edge. “By the time I finish with him, he won’t know what hit him.”“But sir, do you think Jaxon knows about us? I mean, do you think Lyra told them about what she overheard in your study that day?”“What did she hear? We were just speculating on the reason she may have run away since she was in the house that day. For all you know, she didn’t hear anything, and something else may have triggered her.”“I was just wondering what they might have discussed - Jaxon and Damien,” Garret continued. “If Lyra didn’t know about your plan, she wouldn’t have told Jaxon. So Damien is still unaware of anything.”“Of course,” I said, taking a sip from my drink. “Even if Lyra suspects me, she wouldn’t go blabbering her mouth to outsiders. She can’t tell such things to people from other packs.”“Really?”“I raised her with an iro
MarcusI sat in my study, the amber liquid in my glass catching the faint light from the single candle I had lit on my desk. It was getting dark outside, the kind of time I should be relaxing. But all I could feel was the burning rage deep inside me. That little twerp called me his subject.Imagine that little twerp, telling me I am his subject.I took another sip, letting the fire of the alcohol settle in my chest. But it wasn’t enough to douse the fire in my mind. My fingers gripped the glass tighter, the crystal almost feeling like it might shatter under my anger. Well, I am his subject for now, for now. I would have finished my discussions with Jaxon by now. It was supposed to be a simple, discreet meeting between us. By now, he would have given me access to Lyra. That was why I wanted to let him know that I am Lyra’s father. I am sure that would have made him see me in a good light.Knowing that I’m related to Lyra would have meant something to him. I could have swayed him. He
I was in my office typing on my laptop while checking on some files on my desk. I have so many files to go through, especially regarding the new collaboration we just got with the Sol Group.Suddenly, the door burst open, and I saw my secretary running after Elder Marcus. She looked on the verge of tears, but I nodded to her and told her to go back to her office.“Where is Alpha Jaxon?”“He has left for his home. I believe he has crossed the borders by now. Is there any problem?”“What is that supposed to mean, Damien? I was waiting in the reception for him to come out or for you to come and inform me that you have finished your meeting. I wanted to talk to him about something.”“Oh. Is that it?” I asked nonchalantly. “Well, the alpha said he had another meeting somewhere else. He left immediately after we finished our discussion.”“What is that supposed to mean? You knew I wanted to meet him. You could have called me to come and see him, even if only briefly.”I leaned back on my cha
DamienDamien couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more going on that he didn’t know about. Why would elder Marcus suddenly develop interest in alpha Jaxon? Elder Marcus’s insistence on staying made me feel uneasy. But I didn’t press the issue. I had a sense that this conversation was one he wasn’t meant to be part of,not yet.There was something about Marcus's sudden interest in Jaxon that didn’t sit right with him, and he wasn’t sure what game they were playing. But he intended to find out. Still, my instincts told him to stay vigilant. Something was off, and I wasn’t about to ignore it. For now, I decided to focus on the conversation I am having with Jaxon.“Thank you for agreeing to this meeting,” I told him while motioning for him to sit on a seat close to the end of the conference table. This way, we will be sitting far away from the door. Although, Rowan is at the door to make sure no one disturbs me as I have already mindlinked him to him.Jaxon stepped forward,
As if that was not enough, she still had a soft, cashmere cardigan draped over her shoulders, the pale beige color further emphasizing the soft opulence of her ensemble. She was carrying a small, structured handbag, probably designers since everything else she is wearing is designers. Its sleek features and pink color was designed to make a powerful statement. Then her accessories are all gold, from her earrings to the rings that glitter subtly on her fingers. Every piece of her outfit oozes wealth and refinement. She doesn’t need to shout about it; her clothing speaks volumes, subtly hinting that she knows exactly what she’s doing. You will think this woman is going to a ball dance at a palace and not coming for a casual visit to her Luna. She flings her long, wavy her at Calista as she gets closer to her.“I heard you were in the kitchen so I decided to come here and see you,” the woman said.“Hello Sylvia,” Calista said, with no expression on her face. It was clear that she is n
LyraShe shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe he has finally decided to open his heart to love again. Although why he would pick you is strange.”“Why do you say that?”“He should know that you are already mated. Definitely you are not thinking of leaving your mate for him.”“No. And I told him so. I just hope I haven’t hurt him too much by rejecting him now that he has finally decided to love again.” Calista’s eyes softened, and she nodded. “I think Luke has always kept a piece of himself reserved, not wanting to trust anyone completely. But maybe, just maybe, he saw something in you, Lyra. Something that made him believe it was safe to open up. I’m not saying he was right to confess to you, but I think he’s been carrying that weight for a long time.”I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat growing. “He’s been carrying it alone. And I can’t be the one to fix him. I can’t be the one to heal those wounds.”“You don’t have to,” Calista said gently, reaching across the table and placing her hand
I sat at the head of the conference table, watching as the representatives of the Sol Group and some of my executives filed out of the room. The meeting had gone smoothly, far smoother than I had expected, to be honest. They didn’t come with a large contingent like I expected.The two packs are not friends with each other but then we were not at war either. It's more like we were wary of one another and were waiting for who would make the first move. Usually if they are coming to this kind of meeting, they will come with a lot of their warriors in case things turn awry but that doesn’t seem to be the case today. A few years after I became the alpha, I decided that I needed more allies than enemies and I decided to find them. And for Jaxon to come with such a few representatives, mostly business officials, maybe he is having the same thoughts as me. This will make our meeting go smoother. Crewwood has a lot of material resources that makes them one of the richest packs in our country
The morning sun filtered through the windows of Calista's home, casting a golden glow across the room. The herbs and roots the maids had gathered the day before were now carefully simmering in a large pot on the stove, the scent of the healing potion filling the air with an earthy, soothing aroma. I was deep in concentration, making sure the brew was prepared just as my mother had taught me. It had to be perfect. Calista and I were counting on it.I glanced over at her as she sat at the table, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the cloth. She seemed nervous, yet hopeful. I could see the anxiety in her eyes, but there was something else there too. There was also a flicker of hope and excitement at the thought that maybe, just maybe, this could work. She wanted a child so badly, and I wanted to help her get what she deserved.Once I had finished the potion, we let it cool. When it was ready, I poured it into a small vial, the liquid glimmering in the morning light. I turned